A Movie Star, Already

Reizl Bozyk (pronounced Rye-zel Bow-zac ), the 74-year-old actress who plays Amy Irving’s grandmother in the current release “Crossing Delancey,” is the embodiment of the Jewish Bubee.

She’s loving above and beyond the call of duty and just a tad too insistent about knowing what’s best for today’s working woman. We’ve seen her a hundred times.

Ironically, director Joan Silvers’ film marks Bozyk’s screen debut. Although she was pushed onto the stage at age 4 in her native Poland and is a veteran of hundreds of plays in the Yiddish theater, somehow the movies have eluded her repertoire.

“I was never really interested because I had the theater and was raising my daughter,” she said. “I got this role because friends recommended me highly to Susan Sandler, the writer of the play and movie. You can understand it was tempting and very frightening because this was a leading part and I’d never ever worked in English before.”

Bozyk said she initially avoided meeting the film makers, but they continued to pursue her. Finally, she agreed to a screen test and was hired the next day. She was also sent to an agent, something novel for her, having had a career protected by the Hebrew Actors Union.

“I must say it turned into the most delightful working experience of my life. I hope if I do it again, it will be half as happy an experience. But you must understand it was simple,” she insisted. “You see, I was playing a part which is I.

“I knew the role from life. It’s a grandmother who wants to see that her granddaughter is happy. I fit that type--I am a grandmother who worries and dotes on her four grandsons.”

The daughter of actors, she married Max Bozyk, an actor who also directed Yiddish language films in Poland. The couple fled the country in 1939 and wound up in New York by way of Argentina (he died in 1970).

Once arrived, they blended into the Yiddish theatrical community playing traditional and classical roles in seasons running up to 35 weeks. Now, though she stated that the ethnic stage remains alive, seasons run 12 to 16 weeks in New York starting in October.

“To be honest, I’m only beginning to feel the excitement of being in a movie. Up until now my friends and family were the ones who were really enthused. But now I’m getting a little attention, which makes me happy--it’s my reward.”